This open access neuroaesthetics textbook, the first in the world, is designed for teaching a semester module (14 meetings) to undergraduate/masters students from both the sciences and the humanities. Written in a style that appeals to humanities students without prior science training, and to science students without prior humanities training, the textbook contains 6 Units, material for an introductory class, and summative comments to be discussed in a closing meeting. Each Unit comprises an overview designed as student home reading, a lecture, and a lab. The labs contain detailed step-by-step instructions for running a basic experiment and analysing the collected data, that can be easily implemented in humanities and science departments alike. The textbook introduces students to philosophical considerations of neuroaesthetics topics in context of the history of empirical aesthetics, showcases experimental approaches to the empirical study of dance, the visual arts, and musi
c, and supports hands-on training in experimental research methods.
FOREWORDAesthetics and Neuroaestheticsby Tudor Balinisteanu, Adrian Nita, Mamadou Dramé, and Emanuela Motrescu1INTRODUCTIONRepresentative Foci in Neuroaesthetics: Subjectivist, Objectivist, and Interactionist Perspectivesby Per Olav FolgerųUNIT 1Overview: A Critical Assessment of Neuroaesthetics as Experimental Science - Chances, Challenges, Required Commitmentsby Claus-Christian CarbonLesson 1: Behavioural Experiments: Research Designs, Statistical Power, Sample SizeCase Study: Empathy and Closeness in Partnered Dance by Tudor BalinisteanuLab 1: Data Collection and Analysis: Repeated-measures (Mixed) ANOVA and Factorial ANOVA using SPSS Case Study: Empathy and Closeness in Partnered DanceUNIT 2Overview: Neuroaesthetics Approaches to the Visual Arts: Perception Focus Topic: CGI-Generated Creativ
e Content and Artificial Intelligenceby Pamela BredaLesson 2: Portraits as Facesby Lasse HodneLab 2: Portraits as Faces by Lasse HodneUNIT 3Overview: Neuroaesthetics Approaches to the Visual Arts: Creationby Marius-Alexandru TeodorescuLesson 3: Using Reaction Time and Mixed Modelsby Christer Johansson and Per Olav Folgerų Lab 3: Gender and Prototypesby Christer Johansson and Per Olav FolgerųUNIT 4Overview: Symmetry Research in Neuroaestheticsby Alexandru I. Berceanu Lesson 4: Why Is en face Associated with Holiness?by Christer Johansson and Per Olav Folgerų Lab 4: Create Your Own Association Graphs and Correspondence Analysis Using Rby Christer Johansson and Per Olav FolgerųUNIT 5Overview: The Neuroaesthetics of Music
by Morteza Izadifar Lesson 5: A Very Brief Introduction to Neuroimagingby Karsten SpechtAdditional Lecture: Blurred Lives: Cognition and Feelings in Human-AI Interactionsby Pamela BredaUNIT 6Overview: The Practice of Neuroaestheticsby Anja Borowicz Richardson and Oana Teodora Papuc Lesson 6: Coordination Techniques of Instructive-Educational Activities in the Field of Neuroaesthetics Using Problem-Based Learning (PBL)by Oana Geman, Emanuela Motrescu, and Johan Magnus ElvemoLab 6: PBL in Neuroaesthetics Case Study: Strategizing the Use of Relevant Research Methodsby Oana Geman, Emanuela Motrescu, and Johan Magnus ElvemoSUMMATIVE COMMENTSby Tudor Balinisteanu
